Primer reloader



` Oct. 31, 1967 M. E. SLEE Y 39349563 PRIMER RELOADER Filed June 25,1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l 54 v 5s 52 77 *4 e4 36 38 4| 53 4 4 f IO 47 43 *78I INVENTOR.

MAX E. SLEE ATTORNEY M l-:SLEE4 PRIMER RELOADER ocr. 31 19.67

Filed June 25, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fla". 3

" y FIGAv INVENTOR. y MAX E. SLEE 'I ATTORNEY 3,349,553 Patented Get.31, 1967 3,349,663 PRE/1ER RELOADER Max E. Slee, Denver, Colo. (3957 W.Grand Ave., Littleton, Colo. 80120) Filed June 25, 1965, Ser. No.466,923 2 Claims. (Cl. 86-38) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A primerreloading mechanism having a central receptacle for 4receiving looseprimers and an outwardly expanding spiral passageway for delivering asubstantial quantity of oriented primers to a work station for cartridgereload purposes wherein power means are provided for moving a covermounted eccentric follower and pin cooperatively along said spiralpassageway to deliver primers to the work station.

The present invention relates to shell reloading equipment and, moreparticularly, to a primer reloader.

While many separate inventors have previously provided dilferent typesof mechanisms for orienting and pressing replacement primers in positionin shells that are to be reloaded and while many different types ofmechanisms have been used, it has been believed that a more eliicientand more economical unit could be provided for the satisfaction of userdemand. This invention is, accordingly, presented as an improvement inthe field of hand reloading equipment with the thought that theadvantages of the improved equipment will result in more etlicient andeconomical reloading of expended shells. Before attainment of theadvantageous results inherent in the use of the present equipment,certain objectives and worthwhile characteristics for this type ofequipment were considered. Among these goals were the following guideobjectives:

In order to provide a more satisfactory hand reloading tool, a rstobjective is to provide a mechanism which will efficiently feed andemplace standard primer caps in various types of shells and cartridgecases.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism ofrelatively simplified construction which will continue to give goodservice over an extended period of time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hand loading mechanismin which a considerable number of replacement primers may be stored andoriented without using up an excess of sometimes limited work space.

' A further object of the invention is to provide a primer reloadingtool that will automatically feed a great number of reloader primers tothe operative work station.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tool which isquickly adaptable for use in the reloading of different types and sizesof shells by application of various standard size primers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel feed mechanism forprogressively moving a long stream of pre-oriented primer caps to adesired work station.

Still further objects and advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the appended description and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional elevation showing the operative parts of anembodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the hand reloading mechanism shown in FIG. lwith parts being shown in broken section,

FIG. 3 is a top plan view taken with the feed chamber cap removed,

FIG. 4 is a bottom elevation showing details of construction for theunderside of the cap,

FIG. 5 is a side elevation showing a replacement guide tube, and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of alternate primer receiving collars.

Briefly stated, the present invention provides a primer reloading toolthat is specically adapted to sequentially deliver a plurality of primercaps to a work station. The mechanism includes a primer receiving andstorage chamber communicating with a convoluted or spiral guide path inwhich the primers are oriented for movement toward the work station; aspring powered drive means for rotating a cover or cap above said primerchamber; an-d a pivoted follower which engages behind the primer caps toforce the caps progressively outward along the spiral path toward thework station. In position oriented with the rim and work station, themechanism provides receptacles for various shell and guide tube adaptersso that a plurality of different types and sizes of shell cases may beproperly positioned above the rim for the introduction and seating ofnew primers that likewise may be of different sizes. Other features andadvantages of the invention to be described are shown in theaccompanying figures.

In FIGURE 1 a side view of the primer reloader mechanism 10 is shown.The main structural components include a case 11 which may be of cast orfabricated construction to provide support for the loader ram 12. Ram 12is positioned to move reciprocally in a vertical bore 13 drilled, orotherwise finished, in the case 11. The

lower end of the ram 12 is connected by means of the pin 14 to a link16. Link 16 is connected to the hand operator lever 17 which is free torotate about the support pivot 18 as a fulcrum so that the forcesexerted on the lever 17 are transmitted to the connector link 16 and ram12 by the pin 19. The upper end of the ram 12 is provided with athreaded opening 21 to receive plunger 22. When the threads 23 of theplunger 22 are properly adjusted in the opening 21, the end 24 of theplunger 22 will be oriented in position level with the bottom of theprimer guide channels 26 but will still be received in the chamber 27 ofcollar 28. This proper adjustment may be maintained by tightening thelock screw 29. An adjusting screw 31 is also provided at the base of thecase 11 so that the lever 17 will not be moved past this desiredposition of alignment for the plunger 22 when the ram is retracted. Fromthe down stroke as illustrated the ram 12 and plunger 22 may be movedupwardly as guided by the bore 13 and the chamber 27 until the plunger,which will in operation be elevating a primer cap through the opening 32in guide tube 79, engages against ythe base of a shell case 33. Thedownwardly directed hand pressure exerted against the lever 17 will atthat time seat the primer in the shell case. The up and down movementsof the ram and plunger are, of course, accompanied by the reciprocalswinging motion of the link 16. A slot 34 is provided in the back wallof the case 11 in order to provide clearance for this movement of thelink 16.

While the reciprocal movement of the ram and plunger is conventional, itis believed that some of the features of the presen-t embodimentincorporate advantages which make the overall reloader tool morereliable and eicient. The combined adjustments of the plunger and ramorientation and the adjustment for limiting the down stroke travel ofthe ram are of significance in the provision of an eilicient mechanismthat is easily adapted to handle various types and sizes of cases. Inthe present embodiment this feature makes it possible to provide aplurality of replaceable shell sockets 36 which may be interchangeablyengaged in the head 37 These sockets, which may individually have shellreceptacles of different size and height, are

3 retained in the head by the cooperative provision of shoulders 38 of astandard size to t the counter bore 39 in the head 37.

With the described arrangement it is not only possible to provide forthe replacement of primers in shells of different size and type, but itis also possible to handle and place primers that are themselves ofdifferent size. In usual reloading activities only two different sizesof primers are used for the reloading of most conventionally used shellsand shell cases. Since the primers themselves are of differentdiameters, it has been found desirable to provide components at the workstation which are of the proper size for the particular primer beingused. FIGURE 6 illustrates the provision of interchangeable collars 28that have center chambers 27 of different size. When the smaller primersare being used, the collar 28a shown in FIGURE 6l will be insertedbeneath the head 37 with the tapered guide edges 82a positioned inalignment with the guide passage 83 which delivers the primer 61 fromthe spiral pathway 62 to the work station-collar 28. When the largersize primers are being used, the collar 28 having the straight guideedges 82 will be used to deliver the primers to the central chamber 27through which the plunger 22 moves reciprocally. At the same time thatthe collar is changed to accommodate the smaller primers, the plungerrod 22 will likewise be changed to provide a plunger of smaller diameterwhich will pass through the chamber 27a of reduced size. With thefurther placement of a guide tube 79a, which has a smaller bore 80 inthe head 37, the smaller primers can be fed and emplaced in the shellcasings through use of the same feed and ram mechanisms.

The feed mechanism which is used together with the described primerseating mechanism is of special importance in the provision of acompact, efficient and economical reloading tool. The feed mechanism 41used in the present embodiment of the invention is, in general, disposedin a flat compact package of overall cylindrical configuration. Theenvelope or support receptacle for the feed mechanism is provided bycomponents of the case 11 which are disposed outwardly from the rarnsupporting portions of such case. The lateral extension of the casewhich is used to support the feed mechanism in general provides upperand lower receptacles 42 and 43 disposed on opposite sides of a centersupport frame 44. The lower receptacle is of circular configuration toprovide a chamber 46 for the reception of a mechanical flat coil spring47. This spring, which is of construction similar to that used in largeclock works has one end anchored to the case 11 adjacent the walls ofthe chamber 46, while its other end is anchored to a drive shaft 48 bythe catch 49. With this arrangement, power stored in the coil springwill tend to rotate the shaft 48 in a counter-clockwise direction asviewed from the top of the mechanism.

The shaft 48 which extends upwardly through a boss 51 on the supportframe 44 is provided at its top end 52 with a hexagonal extension 53which may be cooperatively mated in a socket 54 in the cap structure 56.With the cap properly in place and retained on the shaft by engagementof the snap ring 57, the cap itself will be rotated in counter-clockwisedirection as the spring power is expended. This spring powered movementof the cap is used to progressively and forcibly move a followermechanism behind a plurality of oriented primers so that such primerswill be moved along a spiral path defined by the raised guides 58 towardthe work station. The guides 58 which are raised above the supportingfloor 59 of the upper receptacle 42 are disposed in a convoluted spiralpathway of successively increasing diameter measured away from thecenter of receptacle 42 and drive shaft 48. These guides 58 define intheir convoluted conguration a spiral passageway 62 for the receptionand movement of a plurality of primers 61 that is of considerablygreater length when measured against the space occupied than previoustypes of straight primer feed passages.

When the mechanism is to be used, a considerable number of primers 61may first be dumped into the central receptacle 42 and then may be movedinto the spiral pathway 62 defined by the `guides 58. The primers shouldall be oriented with respect to top and bottom surfaces beforeintroduction into such pathway so that all further movement of theprimers will merely be a sliding motion as they are guided along thespiral pathway to the work station at collar 28. A follower typemechanism used for urging the primers 61 along the spiral pathway 62 ismounted within the cap 56 and is shown in FIGURES 1 and 4. Here it willbe seen that the follower mechanism 63 includes a shaft 64 rotatablymounted in an eccentrically positioned bore 66 that is axially alignedwith respect to the shaft 48. Since shaft 64 is retained in the cap 56by use of a snap ring 77, the shaft 64 and an associated disk 67 arefree to rotate in the cap 56. A follower pin 68 is provided on the lowersurface of the disk 67 to extend downwardly into the receptacle 42 orprogressively along the pathway 62 and between the guides 58.

In the use of the mechanism the spiral pathway 62 is at least partiallylled with primers, andthe cap 56- is brought into position above theupper receptacle 42 with the follower pin 68 being positioned inwardlyclosest to the shaft 48. The follower pin is next rotated outwardlyuntil it contacts the convoluted guide 58 at a position adjacent thenumeral 69. Thereafter rotation of the cap will bring the follower pin68 into the guide pathway 62 while further rotational movement of thecap will be restrained by the presence of primers in the spiral pathway.As primers are used or discharged, the cap 56 will rotate in thecounter-clockwise direction as powered by the spring mechanism 47. Thisrotational movement of the cap will be accompanied by an outwardlydirected rotation of the follower pin 68 as the pin moves along thespiral pathway 62. `Inasmuch as this rotational movement of the followerpin 68 is relatively limited, it has been found advantageous to providea stop pin 71 on the follower disk 67 which can be engaged in a limitslot 72 on the underneath surface of the cap 56. This slot and pincombination in the present configuration limits movement of the followerpin 68 to an arc of approximately 135. With this limited movement, thefollower pin can move along the entire length of the spiral pathway 62to urge the primers toward the work station at collar 28. The mainfunction of the pin and limit slot combination is to control or limitthe clockwise movement of the follower pin 68 so that the follower pinmay be easily and conveniently oriented in the central portion of theupper receptacle 42 when the cap is being replaced above such receptacleafter a new srlipply of primers has been inserted.

Several additional components are provided to complete a desirable andconvenient structure. First, the lower receptacle 43 may be closed offby use of a disk 73 received in a shouldered receptacle 74, and theldisk 73 can be held in place by a lock spring 76. Disk 73 will prevententry of dirt and stray items into the drive spring area. Case 11 isfurther provided with foot extensions 78 so that the reloading tool maybe conveniently fastened to a work bench or support. With the feedmechanism components 41 fixed to the top surface of a work bench, thelever 17 will be in a convenient position for operator usage.

Since the overall arrangement provides a primer reloader tool that fullysatisfies the stated objectives and since a highly desirable result isobtained through use of a compact and efficient structure, it isbelieved that benefcial features of the invention will be foundadaptable to various modifications and changes. All modifications,changes and developments coming within the scope of the appended claimsare to be considered a part of this invention.

I claim:

1.. A primer feed and reloading mechanism for use in placing new primersin expended shell cases comprising a body providing an upper receptaclehaving a supporting oor and adapted to receive a quantity of looseprimers, a work station on said body disposed outwardly from said upperreceptacle, a guide ridge raised above said supporting oor and woundabout itself in spaced apart relation to provide an outwardly expendingspiral passageway communicating with said receptacle and work station, acap member rotatably mounted on said body in position above saidreceptacle for holding said primers within said receptacle and in saidpassageway, a follower element rotatably mounted on said cap ineccentric position with respect to the center of rotation for said cap,a follower pin on said follower element for extension downwardly intosaid receptacle and passageway for engagement behind primers in saidpassageway, and means for rotating said cap member to move said followerpin progressively along said passageway and toward said work stationwhereby said primers are delivered from said receptacle to the outwardlypositioned work station.

2. A primer feed and reloading mechanism for use in placing new primersin expended shell cases comprising a body providing an upper receptaclehaving a supporting oor and adapted -to receive a quantity of looseprimers, a work station on said body disposed outwardly from said upperreceptacle, a guide ridge raised above said supporting floor and woundabout itself in spaced apart relation to provide an outwardly expendingspiral passageway of width less than twice the diameter of primers to beused and communicating with said receptacle and work station, a capmember rotatably mounted on said body in position above said receptaclefor holding said primers within said receptacle and in said passageway,a follower element rotatably mounted for limited rotational movement onsaid cap in eccentric position with respect to the center of rotationfor said cap, an eccentrically positioned follower pin on said followerelement for extension downwardly into said receptacle and passageway forengagement behind primers in said passageway, and spring means forrotating said cap member to move said follower pin progressively alongsaid passageway and toward said work station whereby said primers aredelivered from said receptacle to the outwardly positioned work station.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 180,746 8/'1876 Bradley 8646374,482 12/1887 Lee 86-24 887,508 5/ 1908 Olin 86-46 1,290,852 l/ 1919Sturgeon 89--33 X 3,138,055 6/ 1964 Weston 86-36 BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT,Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL FEIN'BERG, Examiner.

P. A. SHANLEY, Assistant Examiner.

1. A PRIMER FEED AND RELOADING MECHANISM FOR USE IN PLACING NEW PRIMERSIN EXPENDED SHELL CASES COMPRISING A BODY PROVIDING AN UPPER RECEPTACLEHAVING A SUPPORTING FLOOR AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A QUANTITY OF LOOSEPRIMERS, A WORK STATION ON SAID BODY DISPOSED OUTWARDLY FROM SAID UPPERRECEPTACLE, A GUIDE RIDGE RAISED ABOVE SAID SUPPORTING FLOOR AND WOUNDABOUT ITSELF IN SPACED APART RELATION TO PROVIDE AN OUTWARDLY EXPENDINGSPIRAL PASSAGEWAY COMMUNICATING WITH SAID RECEPTACLE AND WORK STATION, ACAP MEMBER ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID BODY IN POSITION ABOVE SAIDRECEPTACLE FOR HOLDING SAID PRIMERS, WITHIN SAID RECEPTACLE AND IN SAIDPASSAGEWAY, A FOLLOWER ELEMENT ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID CAP INECCENTRIC POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE CENTER OF ROTATION FOR SAID CAP,A FOLLOWER PIN ON SAID FOLLOWER ELEMENT FOR EXTENSION DOWNWARDLY INTOSAID RECEPTACLE AND PASSAGEWAY FOR ENGAGEMENT BEHIND PRIMERS IN SAIDPASSAGEWAY, AND MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID CAP MEMBER TO MOVE SAID FOLLOWERPIN PROGRESSIVELY ALONG SAID PASSAGEWAY AND TOWARD SAID WORK STATIONWHEREBY SAID PRIMERS ARE DELIVERED FROM SAID RECEPTACLE TO THE OUTWARDLYPOSITIONED WORK STATION.